by It’s an unavoidable sight: across Europe, almost every major city has a competing network of open-top buses trying to attract visitors’ attention, with agents pushing leaflets into the hands of eager tourists. The competing companies, all with similar names and flows, charge extremely high prices. And it is difficult to argue that they encourage exploration, and instead encourage customers in passive participation: here, the Eiffel Tower, there, the Louvre.
Of course, we know that public transport has to be an option, and it has to go beyond the sights too. But how to find the ways? In places like Barcelona, that search is becoming more difficult – as part of its efforts to curb over-tourism, the city has removed certain bus routes from Google and Apple Maps because sightseers are leaving nowhere for residents.
Happily, there are some really great public bus routes across the continent that cost a fraction of the tourist bus. Many have fixed prices, not charged by the number of trips but by time, meaning you can use it to facilitate exploration rather than sitting down. Here are some of the best public bus routes in Europe for sightseeing.
Good – the 5
The best way to explore Nice’s glittering coastline is on foot – especially as it allows for an impromptu beach session. If the summer heat becomes stifling, however, the tram network allows an air-conditioned escape, moving from sunny boulevards to the Old Town.
It is the number 5 bus, however, that allows you to leave the oppressive city center and meander up to the wilder mountains. Get on board at the Jean Médecin stop, where the bus almost immediately starts traveling north: past the busy shopping streets and up the hillside. Hop off at any point to take pictures of the Riviera views, or land at Musée Chagall or Musée Matisse, to get a glimpse of how the sons of French modernism viewed the city.
Price: Pick up La Carte from an official vendor, and add what you need for your trip. Single trips start at €1.70 (£1.46)
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Paris – 69
The 69 bus in Paris is extremely useful for getting around the city, and while its visual appeal should not be underestimated, its utility – and its length – mean that the tourist may use it for purely practical reasons. .
If you are interested, take the grand Esplanade des Invalides, go past the Pont du Carrousel, past the Louvre, up to the Pont Neuf. From here, you will be able to see the Île de la Cité and the half-restored Notre Dame. Hop aboard for a coffee and croissant, or continue to Père Lachaise, near the end of the line, for a tour of Paris’ most historic cemetery.
If you are in the city to explore its galleries, instead head west from Bastille-Rue Saint Antoine for a very museum-heavy route, passing the Center Pompidou, the Louvre, Musée d’Orsay, Musée Rodin, at finishing at the Hôtel des Invalides. At various points along the route, the Eiffel Tower comes into view, so have your camera ready for a quick photo opportunity.
Price: €2.50 (£2.14) for a one-way “SMS ticket on board”; €2.15 (£1.84) for a one-way t+ ticket, sold from vending machines at transport stops.
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Rome – 64
Bus 64, which runs from the central railway terminus to the Vatican, is an extremely efficient way to move through the city. Buses run every six to 10 minutes, meaning you won’t have to wait long. Be warned, though: it can get very crowded at peak times, making them their favourites. Travelers should be aware of them (and read our guide on avoiding thieves before any trip). However, the tour passes through the city center, allowing passengers to spy numerous ornate churches (Chiesa di Santa Caterina da Siena is a favorite), past the Grand Palazzo delle Esposizioni, and on to San Pietro station.
From here, it’s a quick walk into Vatican City. Book in advance to see the magnificent Sistine Chapel and the Vatican Museums, or head out for a private tour. Stop for an espresso, explore the Basilica, then return to central Rome on the same bus.
Price: Contactless tap&go tickets cost €1.50 (£1.29) per 100 minutes – payable by contactless bank card on boarding.
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Many buses pass through central London: the 11 buses slide along Navy Street, the 9 past the Ritz. But visitors are advised to board the 24 at Victoria Station (by tapping Oyster or a bank card on the downstairs readers), and go to the front upper deck seats. Here, as the new Routemaster winds its way through the streets of London, you’ll see the magnificent Westminster Abbey, which runs along Whitehall, past Downing Street, around Trafalgar Square, into busy Soho, and then out of the city, going north, to the leafy, mansion-lined streets of Hampstead.
It will take some time to follow the route in its entirety – but it will make it all the more special. Skip the overcrowded, low-quality tourist buses, and supplement the inadequate commentary with a DIY guide instead. And as standard fares are hourly, rather than per trip, you can even hop on and off as if it were a more commercial offering.
Price: £1.75 per hour, payable by Oyster or bank card on board the bus.
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There are fragments of history on every corner in Berlin. To navigate through them, take the 100 bus from Alexanderplatz – once a military training ground, and now the largest square in the city. Snap pictures under the TV Tower, then hop on the bus. The tour will take you past Berlin Cathedral, with its grand Baroque domes, along the river, where Museum Island should make for some great photos, and on to the Brandenburg Gate.
On to the Bundestag (once the Reichstag), Kaiser Wilhelm’s church, and the zoo, which opened in 1844 and has one of the largest animal collections in the world. Board here for a day out, or follow the route back to Alexanderplatz and take the 200 to Potsdamer Platz and Checkpoint Charlie.
Price: One-way fares, valid for up to two hours, cost between €2.40 (£2.06) and €3.50 (£3) depending on the number of stops. Buy from a bus driver or in advance at the vending machines.
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Does a water bus count as a bus? The vaporetto is a fine equivalent in Venice, where waterborne travel is essential. The number 1 goes through the Grand Canal, stopping about 20 times among the winding, ancient streets – taking in the Rialto Bridge and St. Mark’s. In fact, due to its utility, visitors arriving at Venice Central Station are likely to use it without reaching it.
As the rest of the city buckles (or buckles) under the pressure of extra visitors, so does the vaporetto. Try to board during peak season and you’ll be firmly in a queue – or at least something close to a queue – for a while. At quieter times, board the vaporetto for a sunset sightseeing tour, ticking off the grand sights before heading to one of the city’s best restaurants for dinner.
Price: A one-way one-way journey costs €7.50 (£6.43), which can be bought at Hellovenezia ticket desks.
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